Giving >> Leave a Legacy of Love

The decision to include Our Companions in your estate plans shows a sincere commitment to animals and a desire for your legacy of love to continue for years to come.

A gift for animals may also:

• Increase your current income
• Minimize your income taxes, capital gains taxes, and/or estate taxes
• Create or preserve benefits for your heirs
• Plan and provide for your pet's future

Gifts by Will

You can name Our Companions Domestic Animal Sanctuary as one of the beneficiaries in your will or in a codicil to your will. In drafting your will, your attorney should explicitly detail and identify the gift(s) to be made.

Suggested bequest language for Our Companions is: "I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to Our Companions Domestic Animal Sanctuary [written amount OR percentage of the estate OR description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

Gifts of Appreciated Securities

These gifts are advantageous to donors because the donor does not have to pay capital gains tax on the transfer of the securities. You can generally claim the full market value of the securities at the time of the gift as a deduction from your income in the year of the gift.

Charitable Remainder Trust

Individuals with large estates can use either a Charitable Remainder Unitrust or a Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust to preserve their family's security for the years ahead. CRTs are created by transferring assets to a trust that pays you and/or another beneficiary a fixed dollar amount for life. While there are many restrictions governing these trusts, there are also many estate, gift and/or income tax advantages.

Your legacy will help provide for the long-term financial stability of Our Companions. As there are many different arrangements that can be made when planning your legacy, it is important that you consult your legal, financial and tax advisors to determine how to maximize your estate plans to create these benefits for you and your loved ones.

The essential information you will need to give them is as follows:

Name and address of the organization:

Our Companions Domestic Animal Sanctuary
PO Box 673
Bloomfield, CT 06002

Tax ID Number: 41-2047734

Tax Status: Not-for-profit 501(c)(3)

Contact:

Susan B. Linker
Chief Executive Officer
(860) 242-9999, ext. 1
SusanL@OurCompanions.org